6 December 2019, New York, USA  - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) New York Office hosted the Graduation Ceremony for the Fall 2019 Global Diplomacy Initiative (GDI) programme at the United Nations Headquarters. The UNITAR GDI programme provides an exceptional training experience to professionals and students in higher education while leveraging the connections and experience of UN delegates and academics

This diploma ceremony began with welcome remarks by Mr. Marco A. Suazo, the Head of Office of UNITAR New York. He thanked the beneficiaries for investing their time towards attending all the classes despite their diverse personal challenges. He warmly acknowledged their interest and participation at special events of the various committees of the General Assembly, debates, high-level meetings and other UN programmes which offered a chance to increase their understanding of the United Nations and Multilateral Diplomacy. He also encouraged them to share information on this enriching learning opportunity with others who might benefit from it.

Over the course of three months, the participants had the opportunity to develop their knowledge of international relations; contemporary politics and other globally impactful topics. The Fall 2019 GDI curriculum offered courses on Globalization and Multilateral Diplomacy, Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, Regional Organizations and Conflict Resolution, Responsibility to Protect (R2P), International Justice, UN Security Council Reform, UN and Democracy, and Women, Peace and Security.

The course facilitators included experts and diplomats from various fields like H.E. Mr. Narinder Kakar, Permanent Observer of University for Peace to the United Nations; Dr. Angel Angelov, First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Bulgaria to the United Nations; Dr. Massimo Tommasoli, Permanent Observer for the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) to the United Nations; Dr. David O’Connor, Permanent Observer of IUCN to the United Nations; H.E. Mr. Yuriy Sergeyev, Former Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations and Ms. Jelena Pia-Comella, Former Deputy Permanent Representative of Andorra to the United Nations. Mr. Suazo thanked these training professors and panelists for their willingness to share their knowledge and expertise with the programme beneficiaries. The course facilitators, in turn, thanked UNITAR for the collaboration in delivering high-quality training on several levels. They also expressed their joy at the enthusiasm, motivation and hard work displayed by the course participants.

Dr. David O’Connor then invited the participants to discuss the impact of the GDI programme on their academic and professional lives. This dialogue session offered a valuable platform for participants to voluntarily remark on their growth process. Participants candidly expressed their determination to leverage the opportunities ahead using what they had learned during the process. They also thanked UNITAR and the panelists for providing this opportunity. 

After the remarks, certificates were presented by the professors to the students followed by a group photo session. The event concluded with a session for refreshments and interactions